Patrick releases final education proposals

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick expects a special commission to deliver a cost estimate on his Readiness Project education proposals by November and suggest possible ways to pay for it.

DAVID KIBBE

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick expects a special commission to deliver a cost estimate on his Readiness Project education proposals by November and suggest possible ways to pay for it.

When asked yesterday whether that could include a renewed push for casino gambling, Patrick said "everything's on the table."

The Readiness Project's final report, released yesterday, contains a wide range of recommendations, from free tuition at community colleges to extra pay to teachers in high-need districts to universal pre-kindergarten.

The 16-member Readiness Finance Commission will be co-chaired by Yarmouthport resident Gloria Larson, who is the president of Bentley College, and John Fish, the president and CEO of Suffolk Construction Co. The group also will look at inequities in the school funding formula.

Patrick made it clear that major new sources of revenue would be needed to fund the plan. He did not identify them, saying the commission would do its work first.

"They are going to give us a fresh look," Patrick told reporters at the Statehouse. "Everything is on the table, except for property taxes, because I think that is such a fundamental flaw in the way we fund education."

The Readiness Project's far-reaching ambitions were applauded at the Statehouse, but lack of funding could make it a hard sell in the Legislature.

"The reality is, it's going to be tough," said Sen. Robert O'Leary, D-Barnstable, co-chairman of the Higher Education Committee. "Let's be honest, we're either looking at some broad-based statewide tax, or we're looking at casinos. I don't know where else it comes from. That's what's over the horizon, and that's when it's going to be painful, when that discussion starts." O'Leary opposed Patrick's casino plan.

O'Leary, a history professor at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, was concerned that free community college tuition would drain financial aid from other parts of the higher education system. Nevertheless, he complimented Patrick.

"I'm thrilled to see he's focusing on education, and I think there are a lot of interesting ideas in this package."

O'Leary said one of Patrick's initiatives that could be implemented quickly is allowing colleges and universities to keep the tuition they raise. Currently, the money goes to the state's general fund and is divided up and sent back.

The proposals would be the first major changes to the state's education system since funding was increased and the MCAS graduation requirement was instituted in a 1993 law.

"We're working in the 21st century with a 19th-, early 20th-century school system that really isn't up to par in terms of delivering on the promises that were made as part of education reform in 1993," said Paul Reville, the secretary-designate of education.

Patrick said the dual goals of his plan is to close the achievement gap between wealthy and poorer districts and raise the educational system as a whole to compete internationally. He predicted it would be a decade-long effort.

High-need students would get more learning time, counseling and support services.

Other proposals include consolidating school districts; a statewide teacher contract; and paying teachers more in subjects with staff shortages, including math, science and special education. The report calls for illegal immigrants who graduate from high school in Massachusetts to get in-state tuition rates to state colleges and universities.

It also would create dozens of "readiness schools" within public school districts, offering the type of curriculum and school year flexibility that charter schools have.

Patrick said changing the much-criticized education aid formula wouldn't accomplish much if more money isn't put in the system. Cape and suburban schools have long complained they are shortchanged because of an over-reliance on property values.